Daily Reading & Meditation

Monday (November 17): "What do you want me
to do for you?"

Scripture: Luke 18:35-43

35 As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the
roadside begging; 36 and hearing a multitude going by, he inquired
what this meant. 37 They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing
by." 38 And he cried, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 39
And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent;
but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
40 And Jesus stopped, and commanded him to be brought to him; and
when he came near, he asked him, 41 "What do you want me to do for
you?" He said, "Lord, let me receive my sight." 42 And Jesus said
to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has made you well." 43 And
immediately he received his sight and followed him, glorifying
God; and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

Meditation: Have you ever encountered a special
moment of grace, a once in a life-time opportunity you knew you
could not pass up? Such a moment came for a blind and destitute
man who heard that Jesus was passing by. The Gospel of Mark
identifies this man as Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52). This blind man
was determined to get near the one person who could meet his need.
He knew who Jesus was and had heard of his fame for healing, but
until now had no means of making contact with the Son of David,
a clear reference and title for the Messiah.

Faith and persistence is rewarded
It took raw courage and persistence for Bartimaeus to get the
attention of Jesus over the din of a noisy throng who crowded
around Jesus as he made his way out of town. Why was the crowd
annoyed with the blind man's persistent shouts? He was disturbing
their peace and interrupting their conversation with Jesus. It was
common for a rabbi to teach as he walked with others. Jesus was on
his way to celebrate the Passover in Jerusalem and a band of
pilgrims followed him. When the crowd tried to silence the blind
man he overpowered them with his loud emotional outburst and thus
caught the attention of Jesus.

This incident reveals something important about how God interacts
with us. The blind man was determined to get Jesus' attention and
he was persistent in the face of opposition. Jesus could have
ignored or rebuffed him because he was interrupting his talk and
disturbing his audience. Jesus showed that acting was more
important than talking. This man was in desprate need and Jesus
was ready not only to empathize with his suffering but to relieve
it as well.

The blind man recognized Jesus with eyes of faith
A great speaker can command attention and respect, but a man or
woman with a helping hand and a big heart is loved more. Jesus
commends Bartimaeus for recognizing who he is with the eyes of
faith and grants him physical sight as well. Do you
recognize your need for God's healing grace and do you seek Jesus
out, like Bartimaeus, with persistent faith and trust in his
goodness and mercy?

Bartimaeus was not only grateful for the gift of faith and the
gift of physical sight, but for the opportunity to now follow
Jesus as one of his disciples. Luke tells us us that he
immediately followed Jesus and gave glory to God. The crowd also
gave praise to God when they saw this double miracle of spiritual
and physical vision. Clement of Alexandria, a 4th century church
father, comments on this double vision:

Now
that he was delivered from his blindness, did he neglect the
duty of loving Christ? He certainly did not. It says, “He
followed him, offering him glory like to God.” He was set free
from double blindness. Not only did he escape from the blindness
of the body but also from that of the mind and heart. He would
not have glorified him as God, had he not possessed spiritual
vision. He became the means of others giving Christ glory, for
it says that all the people gave glory to God.(Commentary on Luke,Homily
126)

Do you give glory to God for giving you the "eyes of fait" to
recognize him as your Lord and Healer?

"Lord Jesus, open the eyes of my heart and mind that I may see
and understand the truth and goodness of your word. May I never
fail to recognize your presence with me and to call upon your
saving grace in my time of need and healing."

Psalm 119:53,61,88,134,150,155,158

53 Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked, who forsake
your law.
61 Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, I do not forget your
law.
88 In your steadfast love spare my life, that I may keep the
testimonies of your mouth.
134 Redeem me from man's oppression, that I may keep your
precepts.
150 They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose; they are
far from your law.
155 Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek your
statutes.
158 I look at the faithless with disgust, because they do not keep
your commands.

Daily Quote from the early church fathers: The blind
man knows that Jesus is the Son of David and the Messiah, by
Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD)

"The blind man must have understood that the sight of the blind
cannot be restored by human means but requires, on the contrary, a
divine power and an authority such as God only possesses. With God
nothing whatsoever is impossible. The blind man came near to him
as to the omnipotent God. How then does he call him the Son of
David? What can one answer to this? The following is perhaps the
explanation. Since he was born and raised in Judaism, of course,
the predictions contained in the law and the holy prophets
concerning Christ had not escaped his knowledge. He heard them
chant that passage in the book of the Psalms, 'The Lord has sworn
in truth to David, and will not annul it, saying: "of the fruit of
your loins I will set a king upon your throne"' (Psalm 132:11).
The blind man also knew that the blessed prophet Isaiah said,
'There will spring up a shoot from the root of Jesse, and from his
root a flower will grow up' (Isaiah 11:1). Isaiah also said,
'Behold, a virgin will conceive and bring forth a son, and they
will call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with
us' (Matthew 1:23; Isaiah 7:14). He already believed that the
Word, being God, of his own will had submitted to be born in the
flesh of the holy Virgin. He now comes near to him as to God and
says, 'Have mercy on me, Son of David.' Christ testifies that this
was his state of mind in offering his petition. He said to him,
'Your faith has saved you.'" (excerpt from COMMENTARY
ON LUKE, HOMILY 126)

Scripture quotations
from Common Bible: Revised Standard Version of the Bible,
copyright 1973, and Ignatius Edition of the Revised Standard
Version of the Bible, copyright 2006, by the Division of
Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of
Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission.
All rights reserved.

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